Job description for Protective Security Assurance Advisor

A Protective Security Assurance Advisor plays a vital role in advising and supporting the delivery of an effective organisational posture to manage security and resilience risks across DE&S, industry partners, and the wider Defence enterprise. This role is central to ensuring the organisation applies robust security and business continuity management processes, helping to safeguard critical operations and assets.

Assignments are typically based in the DE&S Principal Security Advisor’s (PSyA) office that delivers the Industry Security Assurance Centre (ISAC), a Government Security Centre (GSeC) that provides a single hub within government for industry personnel and physical security assurance services. The PSyA provides a programme of security assurance for its estate and the supply chain. The role of Protective Security Assurance Advisor is to identify Physical and Personnel Security and resilience risks and highlight non-compliance and vulnerabilities to enable others to manage residual risk.

You will provide essential support to ensure the secure delivery of DE&S, MOD and Government projects. This includes working in accordance with established policies and governance frameworks to maintain high standards of security assurance throughout the project lifecycle.

The UK Government is responsible for safeguarding vast amounts of sensitive data, financial assets, and personal information. This information underpins essential public services relied upon by millions of citizens and thousands of businesses across the country. However, this responsibility comes with significant challenges. Threats such as organised crime, hacktivist groups, terrorism, foreign intelligence services, and rogue individuals are ever-present. These threats can cause serious economic harm, undermine public trust in digital services, and compromise the safety, privacy, and property of UK citizens.

As an adviser on Protective Security, you’ll play an important role in protecting people, property and physical assets from damage or loss.

Across the Government Security Profession, we look for people with curious minds. People who consider every possibility, ask questions and always dig deeper. For this role, you should have an understanding in Risk, Mitigation and Physical Security, with a working knowledge of Protective Security, Threat Understanding and Government standards such as GovS007.

Please note:  This role requires frequent travel across the UK. While travel is a constant aspect of the position, the designated home station is Abbey Wood (ABW), Bristol. Attendance at the home station is expected at least once per month and when required. More frequent attendance at site is expected during the probation period to aid learning.

 What you’ll be doing

• Engaging with Security Controllers to certify industry premises for ISAC
• Facilities Security Clearance (FSC) accreditation. To conduct routine security assurance reviews of the premises and working arrangements to ensure that their contracted security conditions are met. Liaising with Contracting Authorities, CTSAs, and National Technical Authorities where needed
• Engaging with DE&S Heads of Establishment (HoE) and Establishment Security Officers (ESyO) in the routine Security Assurance of DE&S establishments. This includes the conduct of Security Risk and Assurance Reviews (SRAR), Guarding Security Reviews (GSR), Counter Sabotage and Operational Resilience Surveys (CSOR), security exercises, ad-hoc inspections and investigations
• Providing protective security advice and guidance to internal and external stakeholders such as industry security associations
• Responsibility for the administrative management of your assignments, production of assurance letters, reports and evidence packs, and reporting as required to the Task Manager
• Align with relevant regulation, policy and standards to provide proportional, practical advice, tailored to the strategic environment, and advise relevant stakeholders on any residual risk
• Ensure security and business continuity effect is delivered in alignment with organisational objectives and standards
• Deliver threat assessments, risk assessments and/or business impact analyses for the organisation using appropriate methods
• Deliver informed / evidence-based recommendations to decision-makers with a means of mitigating risk and managing issues
• Design and support the implementation of risk reduction methods, advising on residual risks and potential resolutions
• Advise the organisation on how to deliver balanced and cost-effective security and business continuity outcomes in situations with complex scope or significant risk

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you’ll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Proven experience of working in a protective security, consultancy or advisory role, within the government security profession, industry, the public sector, or a comparable organisation
• Collaborate effectively with stakeholders and produce high-quality reports

To benefit your application if you are able to demonstrate the following desirable criteria:

• Hold a FULL UK Driving Licence
• Membership of a relevant institution or body e.g. MSyI, RSES, CSyP
• Relevant industry or government qualifications and accreditations e.g. Security Institute Level 5 Diploma
• NPSA security practitioner courses
• Security Risk Management

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Security Compliance and Assurance – Supervised Practitioner
• Risk Understanding and Mitigation – Practitioner
• Communicating and Influencing – CSBC3
• Making Effective Decisions – CSBC3

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,100, Ministry of Defence contributes £12,486 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Market-leading employer pension contribution of around 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded professional qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So, whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences, and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of – and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Further Information

• Civil Service Recruitment Principles: Recruitment Principles – Civil Service Commission
• Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/DES-Candidate-Information-Pack
• Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-Terms-and-Conditions
• Civil Service Code: The Code – Civil Service Commission

Any personal data that you provide during the Recruitment process will be treated in accordance with the MOD Privacy Notice which can be accessed here. 

Please note as a Disability Confident Leader we want to ensure you receive any reasonable adjustments that you need throughout the recruitment process. If you do require any reasonable adjustments, you can let us know on your online application under the section ‘Please indicate and give details of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the recruitment process’.

Selection process details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift – We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.
2. Sift – Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills. Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.
3. Interview – If you’re invited to interview, you’ll be assessed against the Sift categories (CV Review) listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. 

Please Note: In the event of a tied score at interview, the Order of Merit will be distinguished based on the relative importance of the assessed competencies as per the hierarchy below:

• 1st: Core Behaviour 1
• 2nd: Core Behaviour 1
• 3rd: Technical Competencies
• 4th: CV Review

In the event of a further tie using the method above, we reserve the right to utilise an additional assessment.

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact department via email: DESHR-WSC-PMOCOMPLAINTS@mod.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Recruitment Complaints – Civil Service Commission